Over time, I will add resources to this website that will help you explore the night sky. And if you are a teacher, you will find the resources helpful in your teaching of some sections of the Australian Curriculum: Science Earth & Space Sciences component. Amazing Space! Student Newsletter Download a free ‘Amazing Space!’ student […]
Introduction Heavens-Above.com provides free customised information for your location including whole sky star charts, predictions for the visibility of the International Space Station and other satellites (including Iridium flares). Bookmarks for all capital cities are provided below. If you are located elsewhere, you can customise one of the below links to your location. All you […]
Free student astronomy newsletter You can download a free ‘Amazing Space!’ student newsletter for each term. The newsletter’s content will vary but currently includes finder charts for planets visible to the unaided eye (in the early evening sky), where to look for easily recognisable constellations and Moon phases for the months of that term. Potential […]
Crescent Moon joins Jupiter tonight in the constellation Gemini The Twins (with finder chart)
(Posted 4 May 2014) Step outside tonight as soon as the sky begins to darken and you will be rewarded by the beautiful sight of the crescent Moon and planet Jupiter above the North West horizon. More information about the constellation Gemini The Twins (in which the Moon and Jupiter appear to be in front […]
Iridium flare will dazzle early morning risers on the Gold Coast tomorrow
(Posted 27 April 2014) An Iridium flare approximately 39 times brighter than Venus (currently visible in the morning sky) will dazzle the eyes of early morning risers on the Gold Coast tomorrow morning (Monday 28 April 2014). The flare will occur at 4:55 am AEST (4:55.02 am AEST to be precise) and last only a few […]
(Posted 25 April 2014) Early riser? Tomorrow morning, Venus and the crescent Moon will provide a dazzling photo opportunity as they rise over the ocean. Moon rise is 2:48 am AEST for the Gold Coast so it would be an early morning but worth it. For observers not near the ocean, you could still try for […]
RT @NASA: Here’s what happens when galaxies collid…
RT @NASA: Here’s what happens when galaxies collide – as seen by our @chandraxray 1.usa.gov/1me2q7L http://t.co/scCA6stfa8
RT @earthskyscience: This explanet is 16x larger a…
RT @earthskyscience: This explanet is 16x larger and 3000x more massive than Earth, yet a day lasts only 8 hours bit.ly/1jiJHss http://t.co/2O9SUoAOwz
RT @NASAKepler: Where is Kepler-186? .@JasonFRowe:…
RT @NASAKepler: Where is Kepler-186? .@JasonFRowe: @mrtommyb @DawnSister1 Draw a line from Vega to Deneb. It’s abt 2/3 towards Deneb http://t.co/3U9S2u7zmn
Free download: Term 3 2014 Student Astronomy Newsletter Now Available
The Term 3 2014 edition of my ‘Amazing Space!’ newsletter for students is now available for free download from this website. This term’s issue includes: Finder charts for Saturn and Mars. No telescope required. Constellation finder charts for the Southern Cross and Scorpius Moon phases for July – September 2014 Preview of 4 August 2014 Saturn occultation (event times for various […]
Make your own tin can pinhole planetarium (page 5 of 5)
(Article continued from previous post) You can use the pinhole planetarium by looking through it (see above image showing what I saw) or by shining a torch through it so that you get star images projected onto a wall (see below image). Note that the square stars in the below image is due to the pinholes […]
Make your own tin can pinhole planetarium (page 4 of 5)
(Article continued from previous post) Step 5: Make holes using a sharp implement such as a sewing needle. Note that the hole needs to be a different size for each star (corresponding to the different brightnesses of the stars in the real sky). Poke the implement through the hole until you cannot see any of the […]
Stunning! Saturn occulted by Moon photos (as seen from Canberra)
(Posted 14 April 2014) Wow! That is the only word that comes to mind having seen Saturn occulted (covered or eclipsed) by the Moon. If you missed it, don’t panic as there will be one more occultation of Saturn visible from Australia this year (4 August 2014). It will be even better than tonights (!) as […]
Venus shines high in pre-dawn ANZAC Day 2014 and above ANZAC Cove, Turkey 1915
(Posted 23 April 2014) If you are attending this week’s ANZAC Day Dawn Service (Friday 25 April 2014), before the service starts you can take part in a little naked eye astronomy by looking up and to the East. Assuming you have clear skies, you will easily be able to observe dazzling Venus and a waning crescent […]
I finally got to see the last bit of tonight’s lunar eclipse and snapped the above photograph.